CERTIFIED OPHTHALMIC ASSISTANT (COA) EXAM | EXAM
TESTBANK QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST EXAM
UPDATE 2026/2027
How are systemic medications administered? - CORRECT ANSWER - Orally,
injection (subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or intravenously
How should drops be properly instilled into a patient's eye? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Into the lower cul de sac (lower fornix)
What does the term idiosyncrasy refer to with ophthalmic drugs? - CORRECT
ANSWER - A bizarre, peculiar reaction to a drug that is not commonly seen,
such as tremors, excitability or even collapse
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording a prism in a spectacle prescription, what does the abbreviation
BO stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The sphere of the spectacle prescription
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Focus the eyepiece
When PRK is being performed, time remaining in the procedure should be
announced in increments of ______ - CORRECT ANSWER - 10 seconds
,Name the organism that is most destructive to the eye. - CORRECT ANSWER
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
What procedure using an Argon Laser is thought to destroy areas of ischemic
retina? - CORRECT ANSWER - Panretinal photocoagulation or panretinal
laser
What type of intraocular injection is made at the Pars plana site with a needle
and syringe of medication? - CORRECT ANSWER - Intravitreal injection
What are the parallel movements of the eyes from one gaze position to another -
CORRECT ANSWER - Versions
What is the movement of one eye called - CORRECT ANSWER - Duction
Versions and ductions are tested by using ________ to test the six pairs of
_______ muscles. - CORRECT ANSWER - Six Cardinal positions, yoke
The movement of the eye outward toward the temple is called _____ -
CORRECT ANSWER - Abduction
What is the technique used to measure the radius of curvature of the anterior
corneal surface? - CORRECT ANSWER - A-Scan Keratometry Length
Measurements
Keratometry is performed with a device called a ______ - CORRECT
ANSWER - Keratometer or ophthalmometer
Give three examples in which a Keratometry measurement would be useful. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Contact lens fitting, refractive surgery, intraocular
lens calculations, keratoconus
,Keratometry is measured in _____ - CORRECT ANSWER - Diopters
Measuring intraocular pressure is also called _____ - CORRECT ANSWER -
Tonometry
The higher the intraocular pressure of an eye, the ____ the eye - CORRECT
ANSWER - Harder
Applanation tonometry displaces less than ____ of aqueous. - CORRECT
ANSWER - 0.5 microliters
When recording intraocular pressure, the reading on the Goldmann applanation
tonometer scale should be multiplied by ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 10
Because there are no rods or cones in the optic nerve head a____ blind spot is
created in the normal visual field. - CORRECT ANSWER - Physiologic
A defect in the patient's superior temporal retina, will affect the patient's ____
field of vision. - CORRECT ANSWER - Inferior nasal
The two basic methods employed to map the field of vision are ____ and ____
perimetry. - CORRECT ANSWER - Kinetic, static
A localized area of reduced sensitivity in a visual field that is surrounded by an
area of greater sensitivity is termed a ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - Scotoma
And unfocused eyepiece can lead to an error of ____. - CORRECT ANSWER
- 1 diopter in the K reading
, How many meridians are measured in keratometry? - CORRECT ANSWER -
2 meridians (usually 90° apart)
The average K reading is ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 43-44 diopters
Keratometry measures the____ of the anterior curvature of the cornea. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Central 3.3 mm
The diffusion of oxygen through a contact lens material is referred to as ____. -
CORRECT ANSWER - DK value
True or False: The application and evaluation of a diagnostic lens on the eye is
the best way to fit a contact lens - CORRECT ANSWER - True
Name the instrument used to determine the posterior surface radius of curvature
of a rigid contact lens. - CORRECT ANSWER - Radiuscope and or Contacto
Gauge
Increased thirst, excessive urine, production, increased hunger and weight loss
are characteristics of which endocrine disease? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Diabetes insipidus
What finding can occur 6 to 8 hours after a metallic foreign body enters the
cornea? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rust ring
Why are alkali burns more serious than acid burns on the cornea? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Alkali burns penetrate deeper
Variability in the functions of levator and extraocular muscle is characteristic in
which systemic disease? - CORRECT ANSWER - Myasthenia gravis
TESTBANK QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST EXAM
UPDATE 2026/2027
How are systemic medications administered? - CORRECT ANSWER - Orally,
injection (subcutaneously or intramuscularly) or intravenously
How should drops be properly instilled into a patient's eye? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Into the lower cul de sac (lower fornix)
What does the term idiosyncrasy refer to with ophthalmic drugs? - CORRECT
ANSWER - A bizarre, peculiar reaction to a drug that is not commonly seen,
such as tremors, excitability or even collapse
What is the name of the instrument used to neutralize lenses? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lensometer (Lensmeter)
When recording a prism in a spectacle prescription, what does the abbreviation
BO stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER - Base out
What is determined by focusing the thin lines in a manual lensometer? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The sphere of the spectacle prescription
What is the first step in performing lensometry? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Focus the eyepiece
When PRK is being performed, time remaining in the procedure should be
announced in increments of ______ - CORRECT ANSWER - 10 seconds
,Name the organism that is most destructive to the eye. - CORRECT ANSWER
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
What procedure using an Argon Laser is thought to destroy areas of ischemic
retina? - CORRECT ANSWER - Panretinal photocoagulation or panretinal
laser
What type of intraocular injection is made at the Pars plana site with a needle
and syringe of medication? - CORRECT ANSWER - Intravitreal injection
What are the parallel movements of the eyes from one gaze position to another -
CORRECT ANSWER - Versions
What is the movement of one eye called - CORRECT ANSWER - Duction
Versions and ductions are tested by using ________ to test the six pairs of
_______ muscles. - CORRECT ANSWER - Six Cardinal positions, yoke
The movement of the eye outward toward the temple is called _____ -
CORRECT ANSWER - Abduction
What is the technique used to measure the radius of curvature of the anterior
corneal surface? - CORRECT ANSWER - A-Scan Keratometry Length
Measurements
Keratometry is performed with a device called a ______ - CORRECT
ANSWER - Keratometer or ophthalmometer
Give three examples in which a Keratometry measurement would be useful. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Contact lens fitting, refractive surgery, intraocular
lens calculations, keratoconus
,Keratometry is measured in _____ - CORRECT ANSWER - Diopters
Measuring intraocular pressure is also called _____ - CORRECT ANSWER -
Tonometry
The higher the intraocular pressure of an eye, the ____ the eye - CORRECT
ANSWER - Harder
Applanation tonometry displaces less than ____ of aqueous. - CORRECT
ANSWER - 0.5 microliters
When recording intraocular pressure, the reading on the Goldmann applanation
tonometer scale should be multiplied by ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 10
Because there are no rods or cones in the optic nerve head a____ blind spot is
created in the normal visual field. - CORRECT ANSWER - Physiologic
A defect in the patient's superior temporal retina, will affect the patient's ____
field of vision. - CORRECT ANSWER - Inferior nasal
The two basic methods employed to map the field of vision are ____ and ____
perimetry. - CORRECT ANSWER - Kinetic, static
A localized area of reduced sensitivity in a visual field that is surrounded by an
area of greater sensitivity is termed a ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - Scotoma
And unfocused eyepiece can lead to an error of ____. - CORRECT ANSWER
- 1 diopter in the K reading
, How many meridians are measured in keratometry? - CORRECT ANSWER -
2 meridians (usually 90° apart)
The average K reading is ____. - CORRECT ANSWER - 43-44 diopters
Keratometry measures the____ of the anterior curvature of the cornea. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Central 3.3 mm
The diffusion of oxygen through a contact lens material is referred to as ____. -
CORRECT ANSWER - DK value
True or False: The application and evaluation of a diagnostic lens on the eye is
the best way to fit a contact lens - CORRECT ANSWER - True
Name the instrument used to determine the posterior surface radius of curvature
of a rigid contact lens. - CORRECT ANSWER - Radiuscope and or Contacto
Gauge
Increased thirst, excessive urine, production, increased hunger and weight loss
are characteristics of which endocrine disease? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Diabetes insipidus
What finding can occur 6 to 8 hours after a metallic foreign body enters the
cornea? - CORRECT ANSWER - Rust ring
Why are alkali burns more serious than acid burns on the cornea? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Alkali burns penetrate deeper
Variability in the functions of levator and extraocular muscle is characteristic in
which systemic disease? - CORRECT ANSWER - Myasthenia gravis
